Shoe stretcher



AQJ.' QulsT E1- AL SHOE STRETCHER Filed Dec. 1o, y1925 gli Qzzzls' ,/I I 52mg y r" Patented Aug. z, 1927.

entre!) s'rA'rss PArsNr ferries. Y

ANDREW J. QUIs'r AND BERT A. MNLLANDERy on MOUNTV Jnwn'r'r, PENNSYLVANIA. l

sHoE STRETCHER.

This invention aims to provide novel means for eX anding the toe sections of a shoe-tree to e ect a stretching of the shoe.

Another object of Vthe invention is to provide novel means for connecting the heel with the toesections.

It is within the provinceV of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devicesof that type to which the 10 invention appertains.

nl/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the .description proceeds, theinvention resides inthe combination and arrangement of parts land in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken` away; and i Figure 2 is a top plan wherein parts are in section, parts being broken away.y

The device forming the subject matter of this applicationk comprises a toe 1. The toe 1 embodies laterally separable sections 2. The sections 2 have inclined longitudinal grooves 9 on their inner surfaces, the grooves vde- LTI U lining a guideway 4. The guideway 4 is reduced laterally, as shown at 5 in Figure 2. There are lateral openings 6 in the toe sections 2 near to the rear ends thereof. The openings 6 communicate with the grooves 3.

' In their upper surfaces,pand upon their inner surfaces, the toe sections 2 have cooperating notches 26. Near to their rear'ends, the toe sections 2 are supplied with a transverse bore 7. The bore 7 has enlargements 8 at its outer ends. The enlargements 8 form yshoulders 9. A connecting element 10, such as a bolt, is located in the bore 7.v Nuts 11 5 are threaded on the bolt 10 and `may be spaced at any desired 'distance from the shoulders 9, the bolt being threaded as at 12, to cooperate with the nuts 11. In theirv rear surfaces, the toe sections 2 'have cooperating notches 14. The toe sections2 are supplied with a transverse bore 15 located to thevrear of the bore 7. The bore 15 has enlargements 16 atits outer ends. r'Ihe enlargements 16 fori shoulders 17. A connecting` element 18, such as a bolt, is mounted in the bore 15.l

Nuts 19 are threaded at 2O on the boltlS and are spaced kat any desired ydistance from the shoulders 17. `The nuts 19 and 1v1 may be adjusted as desired, to limit the amount that the toe sections 2 areseparated, by an instrumentality to be described hereinafter. In the inner surfaces of the toe sections 2,

near to the rearlower corners thereof, there Y are oppositely disposed seats21 receiving a compression spring 22, which tends to swing the toe sections f2 apart, into engagement with the nuts 11 and 19.

The means forjexpanding the toe sections 2 embodies a tubular nut23 mounted in the guideway4-v which is formed by the grooves 3. received in the openings 6 of the toe sec tions 2 and holding the nut 23 in place in the guideway 4. The nut 23 is supplied with an upstanding lug 25 received yin the notches -26 of the toe sections 2. rlhere is an oil duct 27 ,in the lug 25. rllhe oil duct 27 eo-V operates with a threaded opening 2 8 in the nut 23. A screw 29 is threaded into the opening 28 of the nut 23. The screw 29 is supplied at its rear .en'd with a grip 30 screw advancing as it is rotated. in the nut` 23 wherein it isthreaded.

. The heel of the article is marked by the numeral 34 and is provided with an upstanding handle 35 whereby the heel may be manipulated. The heel 34 has 'a bore 36 terminating at its rear end in an enlargement 37 defining an internal shoulder 38. A connector 39, preferably a screw, is located in the rbore 36 and in the enlargement 37. The forward end of the screw 39 extends into the notches 14 of the toev sections 2 and is mounted to swing onthe connect-ing element 18. At its rear end, the screw 39 has an enlarged head 40 located in the part 37 of the bore 36. A compression spring 41 surrounds a portion'of the screw 39. The rear end of the spring 41jabuts againstl thehead 40 of the screw 39, and the forward end of the The nut 23 has tapered lateral arms 24 r whereby the screw may be rotated. Y The forspring abuts against the .shoulder33 A Washer Ll2 is mounted on the screw 39, slidably, and bears against the forward surface of the heel 34. A nut 43 threaded on the scren7 39 and 4engages the Washer 42, the nut having projecting arms 44, whereby it may be rotated readily by band.

In practical operation, thezheel 34 may be swungupwardly and downwardly, by means of the handle 35, during the insertion of the toe 1 in the shoe, and to enablethe heel 34 to acquire a firm seat Within the shoe, the connector orscren swinging on the member 18. `By rotating the nut 43 through the instrinnentality of the arms Lll. the distance between the toe `l and the heel 34 may beadjiisted, and the device, therefore,` may `be adapted readily to shoes of Vdi'tl'erent lengths, the compression spril'ig Lil keeping tlie heel 34 under the control of the nutfl3 as the connector or sfrew 39 `slides for ad` justm'ent in the bore 36 of the heel 34.

`By rotating fthe screw 29, the rider 32 may be adif'anced, as hereinbelcreexplained, to`

eiec't a separa-tin of the t'oe sections 2 and to bring about 'a stretching;` ot' the shoe; The

Y oil "Chiot 27, in the lug` on the nut 23 en'- ablesthe 'screwv 29 to be lubricated. The arms 24 of the nut 23 holdv the nut 23 against rotation, when themconnectors or screw 39 is rotated and advanced or retracted in the member 23.

lhat is claimed is l l. In a device ot' the class described, a toe comprising laterally separable sections, means for connecting,` the` said sections for lateral movement, means ioi expanding the said sections, `a screw pivotally mounted on the toe, a heel slidable 'for adjustment on the screwaa nut threaded on the serenT and'cooperating' with the inner end of the heel, and a compression spring on the screw, Within the heel, one end ot' `the spring being engaged with the screw, and the other end o'i' the sprind being engaged with `the heel.

2. In a. device of the class described, a toe comprising laterally separable sections, means 'for expandingr the said sections, a connector pifvoted to the toe, acheel mounted for `slidingr .adjustment on the connector, longitudinally `of the connector,` mechanism under `the. control oil" operator for sliding `the heel onthe connector inone direction, and spring means cooperatingavilh the heel and with the connector -to slide the heel on the connectorin an opposite direction` and lo hold the heel yieldingly in engagement with said mechanism.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, Wehai'e hereto affixed our Sigi natures.

ANDREW J, Qmsr. senr A. MELLANDER. 

